“Lord Rushcliffe saw to that,” Enid replied vaguely.
Her father watched her for a moment before saying, “It just makes me wonder how he was able to circumvent a trial for you.”
“Does it truly matter?”
“I suppose not, but I am relieved to hear that you weren’t alone that night you confronted John.”
Enid reached for her cup of tea and took a sip. She had no intention of confiding in her father about how Greydon worked as a Bow Street Runner or who else was involved that fateful night. Some things were best left in the past.
Her father frowned. “Do you intend to marry Lord Rushcliffe?”
The question caught her by surprise. It shouldn’t have, but it did. Her father had always spoken his mind so why did she think this would be any different? “I don’t know,” she replied honestly. “He has asked, multiple times, in fact, but I have turned him down each time.”
“Why is that? If he is foolish enough to want you as a wife, why wouldn’t you accept his offer of marriage?”
“Because I’m unsure if I ever wish to marry again.”
“But you are a woman.”
It was Enid’s turn to frown. “Thank you for noticing,” she mocked.
“What I mean is that your options are limited,” her father said. “Why would you turn down the opportunity to be a countess one day?”
“I care little about titles.”
“Then what do you care about?”
Enid didn’t want to have this conversation with her father. He wouldn’t understand her reasonings, and if he did, she had no doubt that he would mock them.
Picking up her fork, she said, “Perhaps we should just focus on breakfast and avoid idle chitchat.”
Her father eyed her curiously. “You love him.”
“Was that a question?”
“No, it was an observation,” he replied. “If you love Lord Rushcliffe, why won’t you marry him?”
Enid shifted in her seat to face her father. “Because, Father,” she started dryly, “as you have so kindly pointed out, I am a ruined woman. Why would I want to bring that shame to Lord Rushcliffe and his family?”
“You are ruined,” he hesitated, “but I think you should marry him.”
Fearing she’d misheard him, she asked, “Pardon?”
“Lord Rushcliffe is a smart man and I have no doubt that he knows what he is getting himself into by taking you as a wife.”
“I won’t do that to him.”
“You would give up on a chance for a love match?”
Enid grew quiet. “I thought I had a love match before, and I was wrong. I can’t make the same mistake again. I won’t do it. Lord Rushcliffe is better off without me.”
“I have a feeling that Lord Rushcliffe doesn’t agree with you.”
She shook her head. “No, he says he doesn’t care about his reputation.”
“I believe him. Do you?”
“I don’t know.”
